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SOPA aims to clean out the internet
Posted: 01.19.2012 at 11:45 AM
Jessica Fairley

Jessica Fairley is a reporter with FOX 31 News

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SOPA and PIPA laws spark protest among websites.
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ALBANY, GA. -- Websites like Wikipedia and Google are sending out a message in response to the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA) that's circling Capitol Hill.

Internet websites are participating in a protest by blacking out access to their pages. This is a representation of how the web would appear of the SOPA and PIPA laws are passed.

These laws have been proposed in order to censor and protect copyrighted material.

“Organizations like the Motion Picture Association see a lot of revenue loss because of the pirated content that is on the internet,” said Albany State University Social Networking Professor Judith Rosenbaum.

Supporters of the bills included television networks, music publishers, movie industry bodies, book publishers and manufacturers.

Those protesting the bill say there's more at stake than a drop in revenue for multi-media companies.

Under the SOPA law someone can accuse an internet user of posting information that violates their rights and instead of being innocent until proven guilty, that post may come down.

“I have had a couple video taken down because they said that I used something from somewhere else,” said Albany State Student and “The Kidz Jump” Website Owner Jecoby Carter.

Carter runs his own fashion website. He says if the law were to pass it may alter his future plans.

“It really affects what I do because I’m trying to be multimedia when I graduate and a person not being able to see the content, when I want them to hurts the entire process,” said Jecoby Carter.

It's not just the livelihood of internet professionals that may be at stake, some say educational venues may also take a hit.

“One of my teachers really doesn't like it if we use Wikipedia but sometimes you have to go find information that you can use,” said Albany State Student Natalie Lewis.

She says although Wikipedia is not a legitimate source, it's a good starting point.

Those against the bill aim to hold on to the idea that the internet is run by the people for the people, while SOPA and PIPA supporters wait for a change.

SOPA supporters are trying to reach a consensus before submitting the bill to the House of Representatives.

PIPA may come up for vote in late January.

 

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